Removal of Iron(II) from Effluents of Steel Mills Using Chemically Modified Pteris vittata Plant Leaves Utilizing the Idea of Phytoremediation

Dargai District Malakand, Pakistan, is a tax-free zone that attracts many industrialists to install their plants in this area. Along with other industries, number of steel mills are polluting the natural environment locality. This study aimed evaluate heavy metals levels effluents and fabricate an efficient adsorbent from leaves growing on banks drainage lines industries having high phytoremediation capabilities, through chemical modifications. Initially, were analyzed for metal concentrations, then plant (Pteris vittata) better capability chemically modified. The Pteris vittata crushed into fine powder, followed by modification HNO3, washed distilled water, neutralized NaOH finally activated calcium chloride enhance its biosorption ability, abbreviated as CMPVL. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface area analyzer, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) used characterize modified powdered form reclamation Fe(II) present mentioned industries. Batch tests performed under varied physicochemical conditions pH (2–9), contact time (10–140 min), temperature (293–333 K), biosorbent dose (0.01–0.13 g), initial concentration (20–300 mg L?1) optimize removal selected metal. Langmuir, Jovanovic, Freundlich, Temkin, Harkins–Jura isotherm models assess equilibrium data. With R2 value 0.977, Langmuir model offered excellent match pseudo-first order, pseudo-second power function, intraparticle diffusion, Natarajan–Khalaf applied experimental kinetics values 0.999, order well fitted obtained Van’t Hoff equation was calculate ?H°, ?S° ?G° sorption ?H° ?G° negative, whereas positive, suggesting process exothermic, favorable, spontaneous. found be iron industrial (as has remediating ion) after may alternative carbon being low-cost material phytoremediator Such phenomena should utilized obtaining adsorbents well.